The story goes on to report that China’s State Radio Regulatory Commission (SRRC) has given iPhone a certificate of approval on May 7, 2009. Engadget ends the post with a cute tag “So, all we need now is what’s we’ve needed for years: a handwritten note from El Jobs himself saying that this whole thing is more than some sick charade.”

No Engadget, the “charade” is something that you are perpetuating though your post. Unfortunately, the echo chamber that has replaced investigative journalism is now regurgitating your report across the Net. “iPhone approved by China!”

Two key problems with this Engadget post:

iPhone’s receipt of radio transmission certificate in not “news.”

iPhone has NOT yet been approved for sale by China’s authorities. An “official” iPhone cannot be offered for sale in China without a network access license (which could be issued any time now).

Interfax TMT reporter Cindy Ging deserves the most credit for reporting on this story. On June 11, 2009 Cindy reported that iPhone has received only one (1) of the two (2) required licenses:

The real iPhone in China news was the posting of several photos that just might be the new model iPhone – Model A1324. Here is what I posted yesterday on iPhonAsia re the new China iPhone photos > http://iphonasia.com/?p=5974

China website Sina.com.cn has posted several photos (below) of the rumored new iPhone model for China. Sina.com.cn was apparently “motivated” to later alter (blur-out) both the model number and the WCDMA (China Unicom’s 3G network) inscription showing on the backside. The use of simplified Chinese inscriptions on the iPhone backside is interesting as the iPhone model for Hong Kong uses traditional Chinese (more complex characters). Simplified Chinese is more widely used in mainland China.

Owen Fletcher at IDG News Service points out one other interesting item showing in the photos:

“The iPhone in the pictures also carries China’s ‘Environmental Protection Use Period’ mark, which indicates the number of years of normal operation during which hazardous or toxic substances included in the product will not leak or change in a way that harms the environment or human health. In the case of the iPhone pictured that length of time is 10 years.”

Are these actual photos of the iPhone code-named “Model 90” (a.k.a. A1324) rumored to be in production in at Foxconn’s factory in Shenzhen? Or are these just photoshop fakes? I’ll leave it to the Photoshop experts to dissect.

The second set of photos (below) shows China Unicom’s “中国联通” carrier signal in the top left hand corner. The battery percentage meter reveals it is a 16GB 3GS model. NOTE: The front face iPhone photos do not necessarily prove anything, as there are many iPhones (including iPhone 3GS) in China that are now in test mode on China Unicom’s WCDMA 3G network.

Apple’s iPhone managed to land in Hong Kong last year, but the drive across the Kowloon Toll Road to China is taking a bit longer. Antsy youngsters (media, investors and analysts) in the back seat want to know one thing… “Are we there yet Uncle Tim (Cook)?” …

Apple COO Tim Cook: “Um, not quite yet. The view is a bit hazy, but that sorta looks like Beijing. (Pointing East) See over there … It’s just over the horizon.”

Cook’s response: “Nothing to add to date specifically, other than it continues to be a priority project and we hope to be there within a year.” (i.e. it could be tomorrow … or it could be 12 months from now)

Okay… Before a tantrum breaks out in the back-seat, let’s get back to the kids’ most urgent question… When?

Just my super wild-ass guess, but I’m now looking for a deal announcement sometime in late Summer ’09 and an iPhone launch in the Fall of ‘09. What’s the basis for this SWAG? Mostly a game of clue by the bumbling Inspector Clouseau (that would be Moi’ who previously predicted we’d be launched by now):

Clue 1: Multiple different reports and sources lead me to believe that Apple’s negotiations with China Unicom were successfully concluded in late Spring 2009. You can chalk up the delay in a formal deal announcement to logistics (e.g. testing, licensing process, WCDMA network rollout and new model iPhone build) and perhaps some China telecom industry politics.

Clue 2: Press reports along with some documentary evidence, suggests that a new model iPhone was submitted to China’s authorities for mandatory “testing” sometime in late Spring. The MIIT’s testing process can take several months to complete. Foot-dragging by the MIIT might help China’s carriers to deploy their own Android-based phones + new WVAS + new mobile operating systems before iPhone is launched.

Clue 3: Multiple reports that Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision) will soon begin full production of a custom iPhone for China. This model will not have WiFi (due to WAPI/WiFi issues) but will likely come preloaded with several “for China” apps. Foxconn has given this iPhone a code name – “Model 90.” There is a very high probability that Model 90 is the same “yet to be unveiled” iPhone model (A1324) that China granted (in early June) a Radio Transmission Equipment Type Approval Certificate (RTETAC). This new iPhone is still pending the mission-critical Network Access License (NAL).

Clue 4: Initial production of Model 90 was confirmed in a tragic and highly unusual fashion – the July 16 suicide of a Foxconn worker charged with the responsibility of shipping 16 “Model 90” prototypes to Apple. One of the “Model 90” prototypes went missing (circa July 10) and this led to a very unfortunate chain of events that ended quite tragically. Many other bloggers and journalists have weighed in on this story, so I won’t delve into it any further here.

Clue 5: Another reason why an iPhone launch might need to be pushed to Fall of ’09 is “manufacturing constraints.” That’s analyst speak for they can’t build ‘em fast enough to meet robust demand. Apple’s manufacturing partner, Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision) is now committing substantial resources to build iPhone 3GS, and this may take priority over production lines for the new model for China.

Clue 6: While China Unicom’s WCDMA 3G network was successfully launched on May 17, it will take several months before service is fully deployed. China Unicom rolled out the first 55 cities on May 17. On June 30, China Unicom announced the rollout to an additional 44 cities. All major cities should be lit-up by September/October with blanket WCDMA 3G coverage by year-end (284 cities).

Clue 7: China Mobile and China Unicom will launch their first proprietary Android-based phones (OPhones/UPhones respectively) + their new mobile OS and enhanced wireless value-added services (WVAS) circa August/September ‘09. China’s carriers may want to have their own “answer to iPhone” ready by the time the MIIT grants iPhone its NAL. In case you’re wondering … yes, China Unicom will be in “coop-it-ition” (cooperation + competition) with Apple. They want iPhone to “go huge” to bring in new subscribers, but they also desire new product/service offerings of their own.

To sum up… logistics and politics may push the iPhone deal announcement out to late Summer with a launch in China coming sometime in the Fall. But it will happen this year! So says Inspector Clouseau.

“Are we there yet?” …

“Almost … watch another Olympics video on your iPhone and before you know it we’ll be there.”

China Business Network (CBN) is reporting today (July 17) that China Unicom and Apple have finalized their iPhone negotiations and will most likely launch a special iPhone for China in September. CBN also notes that iPhone’s OEM, Foxconn (Hon Hai Precision), has played a crucial middle-man role in the signing of the agreement.

As reported earlier, the Wi-Fi function will be disabled on the Chinese version of the iPhone 3G to comply with the requirements of MIIT. More details here on WAPI/WiFi

According to several reports, the new model iPhone for China has been given the code name “model 90” by Foxconn. This is almost certainly the same new iPhone (model A1324) that is reportedly in production right now.